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I'm Not Dead Yet!

I know some of you thought I was dead, or at least hoped I was dead. Sorry to burst your bubble.

I’m back.

Even heart disease couldn’t keep me down. It surprised the hell out of me, though.

You see, I have never had any indication that I suffered from heart disease. I have never been a smoker.

I don’t have hypertension. I don’t have diabetes. I don’t have any co-morbidities that would scream heart disease.

And yet, on Nov. 21, 2018, I had a double bypass.

Two of my arteries had blockages. My Left Main Artery had a 70 percent blockage and my proximal left anterior descending artery had a 90 percent blockage.

We are talking widow maker-type stuff, folks. I was a walking time bomb.

I experienced the worst chest pain ever, complete with shortness of breath.

Thankfully, my blockages were found before any damage was done to my heart. My heart is operating at normal capacity. For you medical folks, my ejection fraction is 65 percent!

A lot of people aren’t as lucky. They discount their chest pain as indigestion and don’t go get themselves checked out.Those are the people that go to sleep, suffer from massive heart attacks, and don’t wake up.

Don’t be those people. Get regular checkups, especially if you have risk factors for coronary artery disease.

Women present differently in most cases when it comes to heart disease.

We may not have chest pain. It could be back pain or jaw pain. Being a Registered Nurse, I knew something was wrong, even though initially, ER doctors told me I was fine. I had to call back to Florida to my primary doctor and tell her to get me a cardiologist ASAP! That’s how my blockages were discovered!

Permalink Submitted by David Luther Wo... on February 4, 2019 - 4:44pm

I have had one of those CTJ moments--blocked carotid artery--and nothing reminds you of your mortality quicker. I am glad to hear you are up and at 'em. I like your style, and your writing style, although I often disagree. Keep the good stuff coming.

Excellent column, thank you for encouraging others in awareness of their heart health. Very sorry to hear you went through so much, glad you are better, nd best wishes for good heath in future. I rarely agree with your columns, but always wish you good health and happiness.

That was an angry headline. For someone who just went through a serious health situation to think we would wish you ill will just because we disagree with your politics and/or opinions is kinda of sad. I am really happy that all is well and your heart doctor found the problem. What will help is to start following and listening to Candace Owens. That should calm you down. :)

Ye gads! D-E-F-I-N-I-T-L-Y never thought nor hoped you were dead! Very glad to hear your double by-pass went exceptionally well and that you're back, better than new! Best wishes ... and keep up the good work!

Good, don't tell me you consume that dreaded soda pop. From your photo you look like a 20 yo, are you much older than you're photo? There has to be some kind of explanation for this blockage, I would really like to hear how this was explained to you.